Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/332

 THE THIRD BOOK OF THE COURTIER like the one who being no longer able to say ' Scissors ' to her husband, made the sign of them to him with her hands.'"" 23 — The Magnifico Giuliano laughed, and said: "Obstinacy that tends to a worthy end ought to be called steadfastness; as was the case of the famous Epicharis, a Roman freedwoman, who, being privy to a great conspiracy against Nero, was of such steadfastness that, although racked by all the direst tortures that can be imagined, she never betrayed one of her accomplices; while in the same peril many noble knights and senators basely accused brothers, friends and the dearest and nearest they had in the world.'^ " What will you say of that other woman who was called Leaena? In whose honour the Athenians dedicated a tongue- less lioness (lecena) in bronze before the gate of the citadel, to show in her the steadfast virtue of silence; because bemg like- wise privy to a conspiracy against the tyrants, she was not dis- mayed by the death of two great men (her friends), and although rent by countless most cruel tortures, she never betrayed one of the conspirators.'"^ Then madonna Margarita Gonzaga said: " Methinks you narrate too briefly these virtuous deeds done by women; for these enemies of ours, although having heard and read them, yet pretend not to know them and fain would have the memory of them lost: but if you will let us women hear them, we at least shall deem ourselves honoured by them." 24.— Then the Magnifico Giuliano replied: •' So be it. I wish to tell you now of one w^ho did what I think my lord Gaspar himself will admit very few men do ; " and he began: "In Massilia**" there was once a custom that is believed to have been brought from Greece, which was that they pub- licly^' kept a poison compounded of hemlock, and allowed any- one to take it who proved to the Senate that he ought to lay down his life because of any trouble that he found therein, or for other just cause, to the end that whoever had suffered a too hos- tile fortune or had enjoyed a too prosperous fortune, should not drag on the one or change the other. Now Sextus Pompey, finding himself — "^ Here Frisio, not waiting for the Magnifico Giuliano to goon,said.' 192 /